<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BAKO2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-216" title="&lt;Samsung D70 / D75 / S730 / S750&gt;" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BAKO2-300x170.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="170" /></a>Sometimes there is no better gift than to give.  It’s a feeling <a href="www.sjvc.edu">SJVC </a>students know well through their commitment to community and service.  This time, it was multiple groups on the <a title="SJVC Bakersfield" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/bakersfield/">Bakersfield campus</a>:  the Healthcare Insurance Specialist Club collected money to go toward toys and other gifts for people in need and the Financial Aid department put together Easter baskets, both working with the A. Miriam Jamison Children's Center, Kern County Department of Human Services.

The Jamison Center serves children who are taken away from abusive homes by Child Protective Services. The center endeavors to bring comfort to these children by easing the transition from their home to a foster home.

HISC ended up raising $500 for the center through two objectives. The first used campus dress-down days where students, faculty and staff could pay an amount of money and in return wear jeans for that day. The dress-down day used a sports theme so the students could wear their favorite team’s colors or clothing.

The second way they donated money truly showed how generous and selfless the club is:  in order to supplement the dress-down day funds, they pulled money out of their own club account. Without a second thought, they willingly gave as much money as they could to the Jamison Center.

For the second year in a row, the FA department gathered Easter supplies donated from student, staff and faculty to put together baskets for the Jamison Center.  They expanded their reach this year to also include the Bakersfield Homeless Shelter by supporting their annual Eggstravaganza.  One hundred children are anticipated to participate in the Easter egg hunt, picnic, carnival and bounce house.

Thanks to the financial aid department and the Bakersfield SJVC campus, FA assembled 24 Easter baskets, 82 candy filled eggs, 51 Easter bags (filled with candy and toys).  The 24 baskets will be donated to the Jamison Center while the remainder will be donated to the Bakersfield Homeless Shelter.

The club members and Financial Aid department would like to thank all of the students who participated in the fundraising events andlooks forward to giving more to the Jamison Children’s Center in the future.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;